Scotts is one of the most well-known brands of products for home owners who desire a lush, green lawn. Several of those items, from simple weed-control mixtures to products that combine fertilizer and weed-control, contain Scotts Halts herbicide for controlling crabgrass. When used as instructed, it is generally regarded as being safe for animals, though there are a few minor risks.
Preemergent herbicides, such as Halts, kill weeds before they even begin to grow. In this instance, specifically, it stops crabgrass seeds from sprouting as the soil warms up. To ensure that the pesticide won’t harm your grass, it should be applied late enough in the spring. Prior to the soil becoming warm enough for the crabgrass seeds to germinate, it must also be applied.
Before the third or fourth mowing and before daytime temperatures routinely reach the 80s Fahrenheit, Scotts advises using the product. You can apply again in late fall, if you wish.
Keep your pets inside the house when you’re applying a product like Scotts Turf Builder plus Halts or Scotts Step 1 to ensure that it is safe for animals. Utilize the spreader settings listed on the product packaging or Scotts website to apply your product once the grass has dried. According to Scotts, you don’t need to water these products in right away, and if it stays dry, you can immediately let your dog back onto the grass.
Alternatively, you can water it in if you don’t want to worry about Fido in case of rain. Give your grass between 1/4 and 1/2 inch of water to thoroughly saturate the soil with the product. Prior to letting your pets go back outside, let the Halts® on the ground completely dry to reduce the likelihood of it getting on their paws, fur, and eventually mouths. Take your dogs up a concrete staircase to the street and lead them there if they need to “use the facilities” in the interim. Cats living outside simply have to wait until it’s safe for them to venture outside.
The generic name for Halts is pendimethalin. The Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) may require lawn service professionals to wear protective clothing and respirators while applying it, which can be alarming, but it’s not as bad as it seems. The main risk associated with pendimethalin is chronic exposure over an extended period of time, which primarily affects those who work with it frequently. Small applications made once or twice a year are much less of an issue.
Pendimethalin is a class-C carcinogen for humans, which means there is a slight chance it could result in cancer, specifically thyroid cancer. According to laboratory tests, it doesn’t impair an animal’s immune or nervous systems, cause birth defects, or delay their development. The main area of concern for pet owners is that it is a known irritant for the thyroid and liver. Common short-term symptoms of dogs consuming fertilizer include vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea. These symptoms are typically mild and will go away on their own in a day.
Numerous websites where users can share their opinions are returned when a user searches for “pet safe fertilizers” on the internet. For a variety of reasons, these aren’t always a useful tool when selecting a lawn care product. Some, for instance, have an organic focus that automatically draws people who disapprove of using “toxic chemicals” on their lawn.
Even tragic tales of lost pets should be treated with some skepticism. “Correlation is not causality,” or “A happening after B doesn’t mean A happened because of B,” is a phrase used by scientists. On the National Institutes of Health’s ToxNet (Toxicology Data Network) website, you can find dozens of animal studies and read the Environmental Protection Agency’s assessment of pendimethalin, which explains in detail what a particular fertilizer will and won’t do to your furry friends.
Fred Decker is a trained chef and prolific freelance writer. He received his education at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Memorial University of Newfoundland. His articles have appeared on a variety of home and garden websites, including eHow, TheNest, GoneOutdoors, Our Daily Life, and Our Everyday Life.
Does Scotts Have Pet Friendly Fertilizer?
Scotts Turf Builder lawn food is pet-friendly. Therefore, you can fertilize your lawn using standard Scotts products without endangering your pets. Use pet-friendly lawn products as directed on the label for the highest level of safety. This means that it’s critical to clean up fertilizer spills and to immediately water fertilizer into the soil after application.
Avoid Scotts products that contain weed-killing, weed-preventing, or insect-killing ingredients to keep your pets as secure as possible. Animals that consume this fertilizer may experience vomiting or diarrhea, despite the fact that these products are not particularly dangerous to pets. Ensure your pets’ safety by using fertilizer-only products.
What Type of Fertilizer is Toxic to Dogs?
Herbicides and pesticides in fertilizers make them less safe than fertilizers without them. On a lawn where dogs are present, however, even fertilizers with herbicide or pesticide additives can be used safely. If your dog consumes the fertilizer, the typical herbicides in Scotts products could result in vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling, but these symptoms usually only last for one day.
Apply the fertilizer, let it soak into the soil, and let your lawn completely dry before letting your dog play with or otherwise interact with it. Once the lawn is dry, it’s safe for pets. Additionally, make sure to sweep any fertilizer off of driveways and sidewalks. As a result, curious dogs won’t eat it and the fertilizer won’t wash into the storm drain and contaminate the water supply.
Is Scotts Turf Builder Safe for Dogs?
As long as you use Scotts turf as directed and follow all label instructions, it is safe for dogs. For instance, the directions state that once the treated areas are completely dry, your dog can play with, eat from, or chew on them. Note: If you decide to water your dog immediately after treatment, you should exercise extreme caution when doing so.
FAQ
How long after fertilizing lawn is it safe for pets?
When a Fertilized Lawn Is Safe for Dogs & Pets. Dogs and other animals take pleasure in playing and running through the grass just like kids do. But it’s also advisable to restrict their use of the lawn for 24 to 72 hours after fertilizing.
Is Scotts Grass Seed toxic to dogs?
If used as instructed on the label, Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun and Shade Mix is safe for pets. Pet safe means that as long as you use this product according to the application instructions, your pet won’t be harmed.
Is there a lawn fertilizer that is safe for dogs?
The organic and natural ingredients in GreenView Turf Nurture Natural Base Lawn Fertilizer will give your lawn the boost it needs while protecting your pets. It contains 70% slow-release nitrogen and no harmful chemicals. Any type of grass can be treated with the granules in the spring, summer, and fall.
Is lawn treatment harmful to dogs?
Almost any chemical product—insecticide, pesticide, herbicide, etc.—that is intended to eradicate a component of your natural lawn —will ultimately be detrimental to the long-term health of both you and your dog. Even many chemical fertilizers are dangerous as well.